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The Evolution of Wicker Furniture Design

May 19, 2014

Ancient Egyptian Wicker(3000-1200 B.C.)
Delicately woven rush or reed furniture has buried with pharaohs in ancient Egypt, including Tutankhamen(ca. 1341-1323BC), who was buried with several examples of wicker, from a chair seat to a headboard to a stool.Victorian Era Wicker(1837-1901)
By the nineteenth century’s Victorian era in England, wicker had become an important and popular element for outdoor furniture. As lovers of cleanliness, Victorian believed that the raw wicker was far more sanitary for furniture, as it tended to collect much less dust than upholstered items.Heywood-Wakefield Wicker(1850)
In the United States, Cyrus Wakefield began constructing rattan furniture in the 1850s. Wakefield’s company later merged with the Heywood Chair Manufacturing Company to form the Heywod-Wakefield, one of the oldest and most prominent North American wicker manufacturers.

Loom Wicker(1900)
Wicker furniture began to decline in the public regard by the early 1900s, popularity continued to wane until Marshal B. Lloyed, a competing designer, began producing wicker furniture from synthetic materials in more simplistic designs, greatly reduced the cost of production, thus lowering price.Tropical Rattan from Golden Girls era(1980-1990)
The sun-soaked style catches a new wave of popularity with set-in-Florida TV shows such as “Miami Vice” and “The Golden Girls.” Prewar rattan classics like fan-arm chairs, used on the set of the latter become highly collective.Contemporary Wicker(Present Day)
Modern wicker furniture is available in both contemporary and traditional styles. Patio chairs and outdoor sofa are reinforced with frames made of rust-proof aluminum. The wicker itself is coated with a UV-resistant and weather-resistant resin that keeps your furniture looking great no matter how many seasons it’s left exposed to the sun and rain.